David Hasselhoff to Front Doc on the Fall of the Berlin Wall

National Geographic has commissioned "Hasselhoff vs. the Berlin Wall" to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the historic event.

BERLIN – Forget Ronald Reagan or Mikhail Gorbachev: Maybe it was the Hoff who really brought down the Berlin Wall.

David Hasselhoff will be the focus of Hasselhoff vs. the Berlin Wall, a new documentary commissioned by National Geographic Channels International to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War. The project will look at the Hoff’s connections to Germany and his personal experience of the historic event on November 9, 1989.

The concept is less absurd than it might seem. Hasselhoff was a huge star in Germany in the 1980s and used the success of his shows Knight Rider and Baywatch to launch a successful music career here. On New Year’s Eve 1989, he was invited to perform in Berlin in front of a huge crowd of East and West Germans. His single "Looking for Freedom" became a hit in Germany and an unofficial anthem of the reunited nation.

“Looking for freedom behind the Berlin Wall, I discovered so much more,” said Hasselhoff in a statement. “I witnessed firsthand the horror and the pain the East Germans experienced throughout their unwavering fight for freedom. They are an inspiration to us all, and I am proud beyond words to present their saga to the world in partnership with National Geographic Channel.”

“David didn’t just witness one of the 20th century’s most historic moments, his song "Looking for Freedom" also provided the soundtrack," said Simon Young, an executive producer at shingle DSP, which is producing the documentary for National Geographic. "Through David’s journey, and the powerful stories he uncovers, the startling human cost of the wall is laid bare. And it becomes clear why David’s song meant so much to so many."

Hasselhoff vs. the Berlin Wall will premiere in the U.S. on National Geographic later this year and air in 171 countries worldwide.